What prompted Gautam Gambhir and Kolkata Knight Riders to bat second, under the lights, in South Africa, is unclear. And the plan clearly did not come off; it went horribly wrong on a track that had unreliable bounce, which the Delhi Daredevils' four-man pace attack used wisely after 60 overs were played out on the pitch. The Knight Riders were not only outplayed by 52 runs, five of their batsmen got struck, including the team's batting mainstay Jacques Kallis. Their top-order had an outing they'd do well to forget.

Out of 168 day-night limited-overs internationals in the country, only 27 teams have won the game after deciding to bat second. At the SuperSport Park, only one team has won in ODI cricket while none have done so in Twenty20 internationals. And against an attack that includes the towering Morne Morkel, the Knight Riders were swimming against the tide willfully. The uneven bounce confused them further and by the time the first ten balls of their innings were done, Daredevils had done enough damage.

It started with the captain Gautam Gambhir, when Irfan Pathan removed him for a duck off the third ball, having the left-hander chip one to mid-on. Off his sixth ball, he brought one back into the other opener, Manvinder Bisla, who was trapped leg-before. Irfan had one of those better evenings, when he looked like bringing the ball back whenever he pleased. It got worse for the Knight Riders when Brendon McCullum cut one to Chand at point off Morne Morkel's first ball, the seventh of the innings, for a duck.

Jacques Kallis was the next man to walk off when Morkel rapped him on the fingers of his right hand while trying to fend off an awkward delivery. He had to retire hurt and did not come back to bat, but X-rays revealed that there was no fracture. The very next ball struck the next batsman, Yusuf, on his arm, as he attempted to leave a rising delivery. At the end of the fifth over, he was put out of misery when Daredevil's first-change bowler Umesh Yadav had him deflect one back at the stumps. By this time the ball started keeping low too. Manoj Tiwary and Rajat Bhatia added 47 for the fifth wicket but it was only a face-saving exercise.

Irfan, Morkel and Yadav took two wickets each and Ajit Agarkar got one; except for the left-arm swing bowler, the other three struck the batsmen and kept them pinned on the backfoot.

Daredevils too were in trouble when they batted, but the recovery was prompt. The 63-run fourth-wicket stand between Unmukt Chand and Ross Taylor put them in a strong position, especially after a 30-run 17th over from L Balaji.

Chand played some attractive shots to start off his innings and survived a chance on 14 at midwicket, where Tiwary dropped a skier. He cracked two sixes and two more boundaries to finish on a 27-ball 40. It ended when he completely missed an off-break from Sunil Narine. The versatile spinner took three wickets while Brett Lee and Kallis bowled well too. But it would be the costly overs from Balaji that they could pinpoint for conceding more than the average score at the venue.

Following Daredevils' resounding win, Pietersen will be off to London to meet with England team director Andy Flower on Sunday. He is likely to be back in time for Daredevils' second game, on Friday in Durban, against Auckland Aces.

Shakib Al Hasan is the best all-rounder in the world...@Bruisers...cheers man its good learning about Cricket now ;)

stormy16
on October 15, 2012, 11:26 GMT

Ever so often you see a young player and you know your seing something special and Chand looks a real gem to me. I know he did well at under 19 level and this is CL20 and I note he has had failures in the IPL. The guy is only 19 and seemed to have some magic about him. The problem is most of you Indians are going to point to other such gems but this guy looked really good and that wasnt the easiest wicket to bat on. I will be very surprised if this is not the next Kholi.

dariuscorny
on October 15, 2012, 7:26 GMT

@WickyRoy. pull-over your comments suggest you are quite frustrated after the string of losses you have been suffering against Team IND, you quoted Chand is a flat track bully, oh really was the Townvilles pitch was flat?, never ever compare Pak batsmen with IND batsmen, and your bowling is too overhyped, which suits only lower surfaces , to be precise its weak as well, I predict a massacre in SA ........

Alexk400
on October 14, 2012, 21:29 GMT

For me unmukt chand is ideal batsman before kohli. He is not opening batsman. He probably played well in under 19. But he struggled in last 5 IPL in slogging spot 7. he could n't raise run rate and got out many times by trying to up the run rate. I think he play lot better with new ball. I see he is ideal number 3. Old ball he does n't have the timing. He probably playing best as opener because ball is new and hard. I probably seen him play best is this match because ball came nicely to bat. He is good in that condition. Slow low , he just struggles. Best young indian batsman for me is Baba aparjith in under 19. He just need to get physically stonger like bull then he can be india's next great.

My KKR XI for Auckland :::: Only 1 change --- Shakib in for Kallis :::: 1. Tiwary 2. Bisla 3. Gambhir 4. McCullum 5. Pathan 6. Shakib 7. Bhatia 8. Lee 9. Sangwan 10. Narine 11. Balaji :::::: I would rather have Tiwary open as he would be able to score more freely rather than as a finisher where he seems to be struggling ... n also I would not drop Bala just coz 1 bad match ... Shakib in place of injured Kallis ...

mnkgpt
on October 14, 2012, 13:07 GMT

Ii m unable to undrstnd why people think that sehwag is not making runs, the starting with jaywardhne was very gud off 35 runs. A T20 doesnt need more than of that. aA fast 25-30 runs are in starting are better than 40(40b).

on October 14, 2012, 13:01 GMT

I disagree a bit with my fellow bangla fans because really its not important whether he's picked or not because if he was, could've quite easily got injured in that match like the other players and he would've been out of action for next month series and he's really needed in the national side. Besides the important thing about his status is that he's better than any Pakistani or Indian all-rounder. The only all-rounders that can be considered better than Shakib are Watson and Kallis which in my view is perfectly justified considering their consistent performances in all forms. Also I didn't know much about Unmukht Chand really till Under-19 World Cup and must say wow! his knock was impressive.

AzAb12754
on October 16, 2012, 12:53 GMT

Shakib Al Hasan is the best all-rounder in the world...@Bruisers...cheers man its good learning about Cricket now ;)

stormy16
on October 15, 2012, 11:26 GMT

Ever so often you see a young player and you know your seing something special and Chand looks a real gem to me. I know he did well at under 19 level and this is CL20 and I note he has had failures in the IPL. The guy is only 19 and seemed to have some magic about him. The problem is most of you Indians are going to point to other such gems but this guy looked really good and that wasnt the easiest wicket to bat on. I will be very surprised if this is not the next Kholi.

dariuscorny
on October 15, 2012, 7:26 GMT

@WickyRoy. pull-over your comments suggest you are quite frustrated after the string of losses you have been suffering against Team IND, you quoted Chand is a flat track bully, oh really was the Townvilles pitch was flat?, never ever compare Pak batsmen with IND batsmen, and your bowling is too overhyped, which suits only lower surfaces , to be precise its weak as well, I predict a massacre in SA ........

Alexk400
on October 14, 2012, 21:29 GMT

For me unmukt chand is ideal batsman before kohli. He is not opening batsman. He probably played well in under 19. But he struggled in last 5 IPL in slogging spot 7. he could n't raise run rate and got out many times by trying to up the run rate. I think he play lot better with new ball. I see he is ideal number 3. Old ball he does n't have the timing. He probably playing best as opener because ball is new and hard. I probably seen him play best is this match because ball came nicely to bat. He is good in that condition. Slow low , he just struggles. Best young indian batsman for me is Baba aparjith in under 19. He just need to get physically stonger like bull then he can be india's next great.

My KKR XI for Auckland :::: Only 1 change --- Shakib in for Kallis :::: 1. Tiwary 2. Bisla 3. Gambhir 4. McCullum 5. Pathan 6. Shakib 7. Bhatia 8. Lee 9. Sangwan 10. Narine 11. Balaji :::::: I would rather have Tiwary open as he would be able to score more freely rather than as a finisher where he seems to be struggling ... n also I would not drop Bala just coz 1 bad match ... Shakib in place of injured Kallis ...

mnkgpt
on October 14, 2012, 13:07 GMT

Ii m unable to undrstnd why people think that sehwag is not making runs, the starting with jaywardhne was very gud off 35 runs. A T20 doesnt need more than of that. aA fast 25-30 runs are in starting are better than 40(40b).

on October 14, 2012, 13:01 GMT

I disagree a bit with my fellow bangla fans because really its not important whether he's picked or not because if he was, could've quite easily got injured in that match like the other players and he would've been out of action for next month series and he's really needed in the national side. Besides the important thing about his status is that he's better than any Pakistani or Indian all-rounder. The only all-rounders that can be considered better than Shakib are Watson and Kallis which in my view is perfectly justified considering their consistent performances in all forms. Also I didn't know much about Unmukht Chand really till Under-19 World Cup and must say wow! his knock was impressive.

AzAb12754
on October 14, 2012, 11:38 GMT

@Bruisers: It looks to me that you're jealous by suggesting Shakib only clicks "once in two years" so here are the facts so we can put that claim of yours to rest. In IPL 2012 Shakib has won '2' man of the match awards in the limited amount of games he has played in that tournament and question to you who was man of tournament in Asia Cup? yeah and you said 'once' in two years lool these facts are way too enough for 'once'. Also the ICC ranks Shakib as Number 1 all-rounder in both ODIs and Tests so you're telling me ICC put him in that spot simply because he performs 'once' in 'two' years yeah very logical :D :P

on October 14, 2012, 11:32 GMT

@ Babloo lal, Comparing Shakib with abdullah,, so sad, who is abdullah? shakib is...
just see..................

To win further matches KKR 11 should be :- (1) Gambhir (2) Bisla (3) Kallis (4) Shakib (5) Manoj (6) Yusuf (7) Shukla (8) Rajat/Balaji (9) Lee (10) Narine (11)Sangwan/Ahmed. If they don't choose this xi thn god help them. SHAQIB is a player who should be in playing xi not in bench. KKR please bring him in playing xi for further sucess or else ur clt20 champion dream will be doomed. :(

Shamonto
on October 14, 2012, 10:32 GMT

@Babloo Bankey Lal... regarding Shakib, u told " i dont remember a single game where he has turned the game around with his battng"... pls don't forget the last two overs of IPL5 final... the match almost gone out of KKR's hand & it was Shakib's batting that changed the target for last over. Manoj just finished it off.

on October 14, 2012, 10:22 GMT

Last night result showed that KKR will be champion only once in 4 to 5 years. So don`t worry KKR fans the next trophy will be in around 2017-18. Thus let the KKR players enjoy SOUTH AFRICA. and MANOJ TIWARY`s last night innings proved that he is not right player to play T20 format. BALAJI should try for the CENTURY>>>100runs in 4 overs in the next match.TRY IT!!!!

Naresh28
on October 14, 2012, 10:18 GMT

@PAKLOVER - your comment on indian batsman are ridilculous. Dont mix
T20 with test batting. Chand did better than most. Bowling by Yadav and
Pathan indicates pitch was good for bowling - no flat track.

on October 14, 2012, 10:07 GMT

@Babloo bankey lal: Gambhir does not know what to do with his batting or form, forget for the team. When was last Mccullam won match for KKR? Your so called good players in south africa (all except shakib) played brilliantly y'day. We all know the weakness of Indian batsman in bouncy pitches. Shaib's 84 against Pak was better innings than any innings played by Indian batsman. You will not be respected unless you know how to show respect to others.

yorkslanka
on October 14, 2012, 10:01 GMT

@meety - i agree fully,imho he would have been a huge asset to Australia in the recent T20 WC..he still has good pace but most importantly has the experience to know how to handle pressure and this also gives him the numerous variations needed by a T20 quick...

i don't have any interest about kkr except shakib-al-hasan.... kr wil rock with shakib..

Dreamscrapper
on October 14, 2012, 9:19 GMT

KKR just gave away the game to DD. the team selection, the toss decision, batting, fielding - they all went as wrong as possible. after all this how can a team win? they should have given the game right above their national discrimination against Shakib and shoud have taken him to the winning XI. But yet they have three more games and i hope KKR will rock in everything in the next games. that's only possible when they choose Shakib in the playing XI.

on October 14, 2012, 9:15 GMT

I think, KKR select the team according to the big names/country; not according to the players form/ performance . In the last IPL, Shakibs performance was better than Mccullum, Lee . But it was a matter of great joke that Lee/mccullum played more matches than Shakib because of their country . Before the start of IPL-5, he was announced the man of the tournament, but he was neglected by KKR . Once again, in The last match, it has been proved .

Mj26
on October 14, 2012, 9:14 GMT

'Mr. Babloo bankey lal' when u dont knw about a player like shakib, then u have no right to comment about him. He is not only performing in subcontinent but also perform in SA and WI in recent past year tour. So viewers comments any players before u knw abt that player.

pjbarua
on October 14, 2012, 9:10 GMT

@Babloo Bankey Lal: If u don't remember, then I would say, u don't have a good memory. Shakib's batting always has been underestimated at KKR! Shakib is a world class all-rounder & performed well in english conditions@county cricket. He also got quick knock of 40 when he was sent up the order against Pune.

bh007
on October 14, 2012, 8:55 GMT

disappointing that u chand does not play with footwork, is a stand and deliver player. Not everyone can succeed at highest level with such technique other than sehwag.

Patchmaster
on October 14, 2012, 8:49 GMT

So sad that Brett Lee isn;t playing T20 for Aus anymore. He's so much better than anything they have, apart from Starc. Lee and Starc opening the bowling would be awesome.

on October 14, 2012, 8:28 GMT

BTW, this wasnt unmukt chand's first game for daredevils. He's been with them for two years now and has played a few games as well... Just because he has become popular due to his u19 stint doesnt mean he has become a better player. He cant be drafted into international cricket right now... He has to prove himself in domestic cricket just like virat kohli, cheteshwar pujara and ajinkya rahane did. And shakib may be a good player in subcontinent but not in south africa. Besides i dont remember a single game where he has turned the game around with his battng. So basically he plays as a spinner, so why just shakib, they can play iqbal abdullah instead. He is a good spinner as well. So stop Crying for shakib guys. Gambhir knows what to do for his team better than u guys.

Arun..
on October 14, 2012, 8:21 GMT

I really don't mean to sound rude, but the overall diction in this article has been rather appalling.

The 2nd paragraph starts off with a miserably constructed sentence. 27 Teams?

Now, we don't expect Sir Neville Cardus to pen each article, but the reason one turns to an article is to gain information and derive pleasure. I don't suppose we can accomplish the latter with such a trying read.

on October 14, 2012, 8:16 GMT

Re: @abcdef_12345 - Shakib clicks once in two years. So McCullum is twice as better.

If above is true then perhaps it is because McCullum plays for Newzeland not Bangladesh.
Most of you love to underestimate Shakib not because of his form ( because his recent performance and statistics reflects he is in tremendous form) rather it is for his nationality tag.....

on October 14, 2012, 7:55 GMT

Super Captaincy from Mahela, If old useless Sehwag was captain then DD still loose that game

jonesy2
on October 14, 2012, 7:51 GMT

so glad to see warner rested. hopefully they rest him at least another game.

jango_moh
on October 14, 2012, 7:32 GMT

@percy_fender.... totally agree with your observations on Irfan... its so great to see him swing that ball consistently, he has inevitably taken wickets every time he bowls with the new ball which is what india desperately need.... the only thing im scared about is dhoni not using him correctly and giving him confidence.... which is why i dont want dhoni to be captain anymore (esp in tests), i hope irfan gets a chance in tests too, esp outside india!!!! could be a handy no 7, and opening swing bowler... like u said, he's actually increased his pace too as he's got more confident... i hope ishanth/yadav and sreesanth/shami/aaron etc can give some depth to india's pace hopes!!! zak is past him prime i feel.... if he doesnt make a call on prioritizing his matches, he's gonna break down!!!

pjbarua
on October 14, 2012, 7:05 GMT

@Bruisers: I don't remember when McCullam won a match for KKR last time! Shakib is one of the consistent performers at KKR & has won matches for them. He was man of the match for 2 games in IPL 2012! Choosing McCullam instead of Shakib is just a gamble & nothing else!

on October 14, 2012, 7:01 GMT

As usual Chand will be hailed as a future hero and star. But doing well on T20 and ODIs has so far revealed that success in these formats do not prove the technical and mental qualities of a batsman. Raina, Yuvraj and fgew others w have proved this amply. Perhaps, Virat Kohli is the only one in recent times who has shown consistency in all forms of the game. Rohit Sharma along with several others have proved that consistency is not a virtue in short forms of cricket!

Naresh28
on October 14, 2012, 6:37 GMT

@percy_fender good observation. On overseas pitches he might be even more
potent. Just like Zaks. India needs to work on Ishant, Yadav, Aaron, Irfan, Praveen
- these guys should be our lead bowlers. One who needs to be worked on is
Sreesanth. Feel sorry that ZAKS leap in delivery stride may be taking its toll on
body. Other bowlers who did well on NZ A-tour shoild also be looked at.

openeyes
on October 14, 2012, 6:05 GMT

"The very next ball struck the next batsman, Irfan, on his arm, as he attempted to leave a rising delivery. At the end of the fifth over, he was put out of misery when Daredevil's first-change bowler Umesh Yadav had him deflect one back at the stumps" ... Shouldn't it be "Yusuf" and not "Irfan" ???

Baundele
on October 14, 2012, 5:23 GMT

Shakib with his ability and current form should have been the first one to be listed in KKR's playing XI. The thoughts about filling out the remaining 10 comes afterwards. He does not have to be compared with others. For example, with his all-round ability only Kallis comes close. But Shakib is better than Kallis - on current form and in T20 - in bowling, in batting, in fielding. Guys like Narine, McCullum, Lee should not be even compared with Shakib, they have single roles in the team.

Bruisers
on October 14, 2012, 5:13 GMT

@abcdef_12345 - Shakib clicks once in two years. So McCullum is twice as better.

huffpost
on October 14, 2012, 4:58 GMT

UNMUKT COULD BE THE NEXT VIRAT KOHLI....HE IS THE BEST U-19 PLAYER IN THE WORLD AND ITS GOOD THAT HE IS PLAYING WITH THE TOP PLAYERS AT THIS AGE...

Nair_saab
on October 14, 2012, 4:57 GMT

Sehwag, Gambhir,Kohli,Chand,S dhawan,Ishant Sharma,Pradeep sngwan,Ashish nehra,Rajat bhatia,Parwinder awana,Mithun manhas,Yogesh nagar--delhi ranji team for 2012, other teams watch out. may be they dont have a quality spinner but there is a young vikas mishra(left arm) & a veteran chetanya nanda(leg spin). This will be a team to beat.

on October 14, 2012, 4:47 GMT

Ithere is no SHAKIB There is no KKR,

ajeeshferdin10
on October 14, 2012, 4:44 GMT

why every one is emphasizing on shakib an ordinary flat track cricketer, if he might have played he would have hit by any one of the fast bowlers and would have ended his career......

Nair_saab
on October 14, 2012, 4:41 GMT

U chand was a member of the recently concluded India A's tour of NZland where he was only the sixth highest run getter. Rayudu(131 in 2 inns @131), maneria(203 in 2 inns @105.5), Mandeep singh(265 in 4 inns @88.33),mukund(227 in 4 inns @75.66),AP Majumdar(150 in 4 inns @37.50) where as chands record is 113 in 4 inns @ 28.25. so my humble opinion is he is not ready for the task yet or there are atleast 5 more equally telented batsmen in waiting.

I fully agree with Jose Puliampatta that Irfan Pathan is in the midst of a great comeback. In fact contrary to what he says, I think he has got back his pace as well. If you wnet by the speed gun--and there is no reason not to--- he was bowling at around 130kmph to 135kmph on an average and even hit 137 on one occasion that I saw.Now that pace is pretty good for a swing bowler let alone a swing bowler of his proven ability. I remember even on his impressive debut in Australia,in Sydney when he bowled Adam Gilchrist with a yorker he was bowling at around his present pace.Bowlers like Kulasekhara,Mathews from Sri lanka never reach even 130kmph on a regular basis and are yet very successful in all conditions.I believe Pathan is now ready for a ODI comeback in the all rounder's role that Greg Chappell had conceptualised. But batting as a floater and when scoring fast was crucial to the game.The important thing is that he is happy with his progress.consistency of seam position etc

on October 14, 2012, 4:11 GMT

that great to see IRFAN PATHAN to swing the ball , you were the hero of that match all the best brother

tonyton
on October 14, 2012, 4:00 GMT

Again, here we go!!!! Was it not just yesterday we had to live through these blogs about Shakib. Folks he could not get the job done for Bangladesh in the recent World T20, so why worry about KKR.

Rafelgibt
on October 14, 2012, 3:49 GMT

What a match!!!!!I really like the defeat of KKR as SHAKIB is missing in the best 11.........Still aren't you get that SHAKIB is a genuine match winner both in BAT, BOWL and FIELD (Forgot the catch he took in the recent IPL final)??? Mccullum is such a overrated player (I guess more than Md. Ashraful) like the most of the NZ batters..........What's the point of playing him in the best 11 as he can only bat (cant bat even any closer to any international good batters).....So, my message is very much clear NO SHAKIB=NO SUPPORT=KKR DEFEAT or SHAKIB=FULL SUPPORT=KKR WIN >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

TheBlackMonk
on October 14, 2012, 3:28 GMT

For me it's simple again, No Shakib, No KKR!

on October 14, 2012, 3:27 GMT

This is the problem in India they have huge number of Kohlis and Chands but no Kumble ,Srinath and Zaheer Khan. Because most of indian cricket fans had a batsman their hero and no one pay attention to bowling even their bowlers show willingness to bat and practice it more that their bowling. Its really unfair that India get same old 4 bolwers each time after having so many bowlers in domestic and ipl teams but at the end they always pick zk,bji,. So unless they pay attention to their bowlers,gvs them same importance as batsman and fans love them too may solve their problem.

on October 14, 2012, 3:09 GMT

For DD there were different clothes for batsman ( total blue ) and bowlers (red on the arms ) ??????? new style

Feroz9700
on October 14, 2012, 2:37 GMT

Poor Bala had a tough day, he generally tries to bowl at back of a length and his bowling was just sitting up for Ross Taylor who just loves to whack it on the On-Side. Unmukut Chand is a great prospect and should be picked for India, his timing was awesome. Irfan was incredible with the new ball and so were Morne and Yadav. Delhi should be favorites to win this title as they have a terrific team and most of the players are in very good form and unfortunately for KKR most of there important players r not in good form. Gambhir needs to seriously get into some batting form but they have a good team and I am sure they will bounce back.

Aspraso
on October 14, 2012, 2:10 GMT

KKR got it all wrong -- Bisla keeping wickets instead of McCullum -- how many runs leaked? Dropped catches in the field -- lost count. Balaji's great idea of bowling full tosses and leg side dollies in the 18th and 20th over. Unfortunately KKR won't have the luxury of 7 games at home and 7 away to get over bad days in this CLT20 format. Having lost was bad enough, they have not done their RR any favour either.

on October 14, 2012, 1:32 GMT

i liked the match

nkoch
on October 14, 2012, 0:55 GMT

Great to see fast bowlers making batmen hop. How refreshing to see sporty wickets as opposed to low, dull subcontinental bowler killers. If these wickets continue their behavior, IPL teams have tough task ahead. Good luck to Raina's to put bat to ball.

on October 14, 2012, 0:54 GMT

A few lessons for Indian selectors and coaches: 1) The accusation that Viru & Gouti play well for their franchises and not for India is not true. They proved, they are equally good/bad in any form. India need to find, groom, and get ready with new openers. 2) Unmukth Chand could be one of the new openers for India. He has the shots. The guts. Has to develop more discretion though, which may come through experience. 3) Irfan seems to have regained most of his skills; if not speed. Anyway, skill is more important. But he is a good opening bowler; not a good opening batsman. He is no Watson; but should be a sure pick for India, before he loses it all again, from frustration of being neglected 4) Can Indian batsmen keep their eyes on the ball, against the pacers; if not for runs, at least to save themselves from getting injured.

on October 14, 2012, 0:20 GMT

dont know why 1/150 games player yusuf pathan gets picked everytime

Rajesh_india_1990
on October 14, 2012, 0:07 GMT

Oh my god!!!what a pitch!!one ball went to the sky high..the next ball went below toe level... first i thought it was kkr's indian batsman struggling due to the pitch...even the great man kallis has no clue....watch out for Unmukht chand..an eye pleasing classy innings..another virat kohli in the making..

on October 13, 2012, 23:04 GMT

Please correct the result line at the top of this article: DD beat KKR and not the other way around.

The_Ashes
on October 13, 2012, 23:00 GMT

Unmukht Chand is a talent! I saw him at Under-19 and rate him very highly along with Bosisto and Haque as the top future batsman in my reckoning.

ExtremeSpeed
on October 13, 2012, 22:50 GMT

I can understand Bret Lee and Narine being picked but McCullum and Kallis over Shakib? don't get me wrong or anything guys Kallis is a legend probably in my view the best all-rounder of all time but he's not the player that he once was more than 5 years ago anymore and has a massive series coming up next month and needs a good rest before that series after a hectic schedule he had. McCullum is inconsistent and only performs well against weaker opposition so really in my view Saqibul should've played for 1 of the 2. Also Unmukht Chand is very good young player first time I saw him and played great shots and should be playing for India now in my view.

jonnybtestmatch
on October 13, 2012, 22:49 GMT

After watching our English batsmen bamboozled by spin, I must I take great pleasure in watching the Indian players face the short ball. Flinching, eyes closed is no way to play it.

Meety
on October 13, 2012, 22:32 GMT

Ha, thought Binga had retired from all forms of the game! Still has it!

ravikant.kisana
on October 13, 2012, 22:10 GMT

Error: 4th Para, 3rd Line - "The very next ball struck the next batsman, Irfan, on his arm, as he attempted to leave a rising delivery." - It should be Yusuf Pathan.

Alexk400
on October 13, 2012, 21:58 GMT

KKR bowled well except for balaji. Its very tough to restrict DD. if sehwag or KP gone big score would be 200.

Ra_Thore
on October 13, 2012, 21:47 GMT

One thing we can assess from the last W-T20 tournament and the on-going CLT20 is that T20 is no longer a batsmen-game. Unlike the early days of T20, the bowlers are now capable of turning the course of the game around.

trini_posse
on October 13, 2012, 21:43 GMT

Yet again...well bowled Narine.

Nampally
on October 13, 2012, 21:17 GMT

KKR's batting is too weak to be a competitive team. Many of KKR players were at sea against the swinging & bouncing ball. These will be the conditions in SA pitches. Balaji with erratic length & direction at his pace fared badly. I would much rather have Shakib in the bowling line up to support Narine, Kallis & Lee. KKR needs these 4 professionals to provide some degree of respect. McCullum might be a great hitter but KKR needs a good all rounder like Shakib in XI. Gambhir needs to play responsibly in a weak batting line up. He swung wildly at the very first ball - most uncaptain like!. DD top 3 batted well to start with but then threw away their Wkts. In T 20, 2 batsmen need to get set to get a big score. DD failed in this respect. Only Chand & Taylor showed staying power. Chand,albeit lucky, played a great innings in his first T 20 & this augurs well for India in their search for a young opener. Chand, Kohli & Pujara make excellent top 3 batsmen for India. Selectors to Note!

gmaurup
on October 13, 2012, 20:57 GMT

real tough call to choose between shakib and narine in a fast track allowing only one spinner. Narine is exceptionally talented. But FYI, shakib is the only spin bowler in history (as I know) to take back to back 5 fors in a test series in SA :) [ahead of all the greats like warne, kumble, murali, bhajji, and mushtaks]

on October 13, 2012, 20:45 GMT

Sad to see KKR goin down....Bad day at office for Balaji......make some changes....need to win big next 2 games....whr is Shami Ahmed ???? Will b useful in SA conditions...ATB

on October 13, 2012, 20:35 GMT

KKR needed more than 12 overs of play to overcome balaji's score....

sweetspot
on October 13, 2012, 20:29 GMT

Unmukt you little beauty! What a fantastic player! BD fans, your wish for Shakib will come true, don't worry. And it will be a blessing for other teams in these conditions!

on October 13, 2012, 20:10 GMT

Proud Aussie guys! Warner been rested Kallis got injured which means Australia are best prepared for the huge test series against SA next month :D

on October 13, 2012, 20:03 GMT

Sorry to say, the worst player in KKR team is, Ghambhir, I think he should give chance to Play in The side, bUt he should not be captain of the side... captain should be, Kallis or Shakib

on October 13, 2012, 19:55 GMT

Correction : It was Yusuf, who was struck by Morne, not Irfan !

on October 13, 2012, 19:52 GMT

KKR should give respect to his three of the indian pace bowling hopes shammi ahmad pradeep sangwan and jaidev unadkat Sangwan bowled well today with contoll and pace apart from one wide delivery out side off it despatched the stands by Taylor and time to try Shami instead of L Balaji

on October 13, 2012, 19:30 GMT

KKR can't win without Shakin Al Hasan...Still now you can't realized it ! What a shame !

on October 13, 2012, 19:24 GMT

I am A Shakib Fan. So no shakib no KKR.. Go devils go :)

vpk23
on October 13, 2012, 19:11 GMT

Nice fella...get him in early into the team...If Sachin can Chand can too better

manwar12
on October 13, 2012, 19:11 GMT

No idea why KKR ignored Shakib after his batting in Colombo. He could have make the difference today because he is an allrounder. He could take some load from Balaji and also could held the batting after KKR lost 2 wicket in first over. I think Gamvir no choice but to turn in to Shakib after this defeat. We saw this in IPL.

dork29
on October 13, 2012, 19:10 GMT

It looks highly unlikely that KKR will be able to make any mark in this year"s CLT20.Gambhir is not clicking - he has carried his woeful form into this tournament as well -, their bowling revolves around Narine alone and worse still, Gambhir's captaincy has ben completely unimaginative. When you have a batting side like DD, who have Pathan batting at number 7, how can he allow them to bat first? Particlularly when KKR's bating is nothing spectacular?Giving gBalaji the last over after he got a pasting was another baffling decision.Unmukt is definitely ready for the big stage. After Rohit Sharma, he is the most exciting talent. He plays some wonderful shots, has time to play his shots and his shot selection is awesome.Sehwag should replace Tendulkar at number 4 and Unmukt should open for India in all formats.Overall, DD's batting rocks big time. They looked like contenders today.

Cpt.Meanster
on October 13, 2012, 19:04 GMT

The mantra of this tournament: Win toss and bat first = Wiin the game. Also, Laxmipathy Balaji is NOT international standard bowler.

on October 13, 2012, 18:55 GMT

you need an all rounder batsmen and a bowler all in one man"Shakib"...very bad decision to sit him in bench...and they paid the price